Edgewood Country Club could become home to 249 housing units if a site plan application is approved to reduce the golf course from 27 to 18 holes and construct the project.(Photo: Lindsey Kelleher/NorthJersey.com)

Testimony for the project was scheduled to begin Thursday night, but the application was postponed to Jan. 16 because the number of people who showed up for the meeting exceeded the 90-person occupancy rule for the River Vale Town Hall building. This is the second time in the past two months the application has been postponed.

Next month's meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. in Holdrum Middle School, 393 Rivervale Road.

"Since it's an open public meeting, we have to accommodate the public," said Marc Leibman, attorney for River Vale's Joint Planning Board.

Leibman explained that not all residents would have heard the opening arguments for the case if the application started Thursday night since some were turned away because the building exceeded capacity.

The proposed project for constructing 249 housing units, including 24 affordable units on nine holes at the course has drawn interest and concern from township residents, some of whom say it would bring unwanted traffic to the area.

The council chamber was standing room only on Thursday night as residents filled the seats and stood against the walls waiting for the application to begin.

Residents say cars were in the parking lot at 6:30 p.m. waiting for the doors to open at 7. By 7:25, the fire marshal had already counted 90 people, with more coming into the building and standing in the lobby. The board then voted to postpone the hearing.

"It's unfortunate and unexpected but once it was decided it was going to be too overcrowded, the planning board has to set up a more accommodating venue," said Council President Mark Bromberg. "Obviously it will be a delay of a month until the next planning board meeting but sometimes these things happen."

Bromberg said it's not common for meetings to exceed capacity but he recalled another time about a half decade ago when an application went before the board about an affordable housing issue and capacity was exceeded. In that case, he said, the board expected a large turnout and planned for it.

Leibman said the application isn't impacted by the delay.

Some residents were disappointed but others were appreciative that the board rescheduled the application.

"People seemed relieved they were going to postpone it so everybody could be heard," said resident Richard Bishop.